Circular knitting machine with height-adjustable spool carrier

ABSTRACT

To provide for ease of servicing, the spool carriers are made height-adjustable on the circular knitting machine, by securing the spool carriers to the frame of the machine by means of a vertical positioning apparatus which may include a cable and pulley arrangement for raising or lowering the spool carriers; hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder piston arrangements; or mechanical drives, such as engaging spindle nut drives or the like.

United States Patent [191 Planck, Jr. et al.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE WITH HEIGHT-ADJUSTABLE SPOOL CARRIERInventors: Alfred Planck, Jr.; Antal Poocza, both of Rottenburg/N.,Germany Assignee: Fouquet-Werk Frauz & Planck,

Rottenburg am Neckar, Germany Filed: Sept. 10, 1971 Appl. No.: 179,296

US. Cl. 66/125 R, 242/131 Int. Cl D04b 15/40 Field of Search 66/125 R;254/148;

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1871 Bradford 242/131 X 3/1944.Davis 254/148 X 6/1949 Core 254/148 X 10/1951 Bennett 66/125 R X [4 1Apr. 23, 1974 3,223,199 12/1965 Schwehr 254/148 X 3,589,146 6/1971Schmidt 66/125 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 992,088 5 11965 GreatBritain 242/131 3,983 1889 Great Britain 66/125 R 1,088,653 10/1967Great Britain 66/125 R Primary Examiner-Robert R. Mackey Attorney,Agent, or Firm-F1ynn & Frishauf [5 7] ABSTRACT To provide for ease ofservicing, the spool carriers are made height-adjustable on the circularknitting machine, by securing the spool carriers to the frame of themachine by means of a vertical positioning apparatus which may include acable and pulley arrangement for raising or lov vering the spoolcarriers; hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder piston arrangements; ormechanical drives, such as engaging spindle nut drives or the like.

13 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures vmgmgnmza m4 313051556 sum 1 n; 3

PRESSURE PATENTED APR 2 3 I974 SHKU 2 ll? 3 Fig. 4b

PATENTED \974 3,805,556

SHEET 3 OF 3 1 CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE WITH HEIGHT-ADJUSTABLE SPOOLCARRIER The present invention relates to circular knitting machines andmore particularly to the arrangement which holds the spool carrierssupplying thread to the knitting machine.

Usually, circular knitting machines have spool carriers which are fixedto support members on the machine or which are slidably arranged inspool-support elemerits, to be adjusted-in their position by means ofclamps or the like. It has also been proposed to locate spools oncircular knitting machines on carrier rods mounted adjustably on, andextending radially from the spool carrier ring, the spool carrier ringitself being secured to carrier columns or the like on the machine frameby means of cross braces. The spool carriers themselves can then bemounted with varying distances with respect to the center line of themachine.

In all the-known apparatus, the height of the spools secured to themachine remains fixed. Thus-operators whoare not as tall as others mayexperience difficulty in servicing the spools on the machines,interfering with rapid maintenance, and supply and change of threadspools. Y

. .It is an object of the present invention to provide a circularknitting machine which has spool carriers which are so constructed thatthe vertical position of the spool carriers is adjustable.

Subject matter of the present invention: Briefly, the spool carriers aresecured to the frame of the machine by a securing means which includes adrive capable of adjusting the vertical position of the spool carrierswith respect to the machine support frame.

The drive itself may be electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, or entirelymechanical. The spools thus can be adjusted, in their relative heightposition, as desired by the operators, for optimum convenience, thusphysically improving the working conditions of the machine operating andmaintenance personnel. For example, when the machine itself is to bere-adjusted, the spool carriers can be lifted to their upper limit, thusproviding free access to the machine mechanic without interference bythe spools or the threads coming therefrom; on the other hand, if-onlythe spools are to be changed by operators of short body height,-laddersand the like can be avoided. I

The invention will be described by way of example with reference to theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. I is a schematic illustration of a knitting machine, in schematicfront view with parts not necessary for an understanding of theinvention omitted, and il-- lustrating a mechanical lifting arrangementutilizing a cable and pulley arrangement;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side view illustrating a pressure liftingarrangement;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary schematic side view illustrating a spindle-nutlifting arrangement, the spindle-nut drive itself being driven from amain drive of the machine;

FIG. 3a is a schematic fragmentary top view of a releaseable spindledrive; 7 FIG. 4a is a schematic side view illustrating a stackedarrangement in which the spools are arranged on superposed layers of aspool carrier;

FIG. 4b is a schematic, developed front view of the carrier arrangementof FIG. 4a;

FIG. 5 is a partial top view illustrating the staggered arrangement ofthe spools of FIG. 4a and FIG. 4b;

FIG. 6 is a schematic fragmentary side view of another embodiment,having parallel spools, of a multilayer spool carrier;

FIG. 7 is a developed end view of the arrangement of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary top view of the arrangement of FIGS. 6 and 7.

The machine frame 1 has carrier columns 2 extending upwardly therefrom.Each carrier column 2 is formed with a holder or guide element 3 towhich a radially extending transverse rod 4 is attached. A cable 5connects to the spool carrier ring 6 on which, in turn, spool carrierrods 7 are located, carrying the spools 8. The cable 5 runs over pulleys9 at the ends of rod 4 and is wound on a drum 11, to be paid out, ortaken up by drum 11 which is driven by a motor 10, for example anelectric motor. The drive-motor 10 for drum 11 is preferably locatedinteriorly of the machine, for example, at the center thereof. The drum11 may accommodate a plurality of cables 5 running over respectivepulleys 9 at the ends of rods 4, attached to ring 6 at various positionsin circumferential direction, to suitably distribute the weight of thering 6, and the spools thereon. Vertical guidance is provided by theweight of the ring 6 and the spools, and their holding devices thereon.

FIG. 2 illustrates a holder arrangement for ring 6 which includescarrier bars 13, located circumferentially around the machine, thecarrierbars 13 being connected to a pressure piston-cylinder unit 12,slidable on column 2. The piston-cylinder arrangement 12 may be made tomove up and down column 2' in the direction of arrow A by hydraulic, orpneumatic force, The transverse bars 13 transmit movement of thepiston-cylinder arrangement to. the ring 6. The piston cylinderarrangement may include, for example, a fixed piston locatedintermediate the length of the vertical column 2'. The cylinder 12' ofthe unit, secured to rods 13, will move upwardly if hydraulic pressureis introduced between the piston and cylinder at the upper end 124 ofthe cylinder. Upon release of hydraulic pressure, the cylinder 12',together with the rods 13, and the spool carrier ring 6 and the spools,thereon, will drop by their own weight. The vertical position of ring 6may thus, therefore, be maintained in selective adjustment byintroducing a selected amount of pressurized hydraulic fluid'between thepiston and the upper end 12U of the piston-cylinder arrangement 12.

Vertical adjustment can also be obtained by a mechanical drive. FIG. 3illustrates carrier rods 13 attached to a vertical translating apparatus12', which includes a nut 15 held against rotation within the apparatus,for example, by being squared and bearing against a plate 12" (FIG. 3a).The nut 15 engages a threaded support column 2" and in this embodiment,the support column 2"v is journalled for rotation on frame 1 in abearing 22, and rotated by connection to a gear 21 which engages, asschematically indicated, with the main drive gear 20 of the machine.Synchronous drive of the height adjustment with rotation of the machinecan thereby be obtained; To stop height adjustment upon rotation of themachine, it is only necessary to free nut 15 from its restraint againstrotation, for example, by moving plate 12" to the right in FIG. 3a; andtransverse carrier rod 13 and hence spool carrier ring 6 will remain inplace.

It is possible to arrange the spools on spool carriers which have morethan one layer of spools. FIGS. 4a and 4b illustrate such anarrangement, in which the spool carrier has a pair of carrier rings 6a,6b which are interconnected by vertically extending braces 46 spaced atsuitable intervals around the circumference of the carrier rings. One,or both of the carrier rings 6a, 6b are secured to the radiallyextending arms 13 which, in turn, are connected to the liftingarrangement 12 or 12 (FIGS. 2 or 3, respectively). The spools 8a, 8b, onthe top and bottom carrier, respectively, are inclined with respect toeach other with an angle of inclination which connects the center linesof the spools to a thread guide 44, or to a thread control arrangement41, respectively. Eye 44 is merely a thread guide and the element 41 towhich the threads from spools 8a and 8b pass can additionally includethread controls, such as a stop mechanism detecting thread breakage orthe like. The threads are then guided to a thread break 40. The threadcontrol arrangements 40, 41 are located on transfer bars 42, 43 which inturn slide on carrier column 2, moving together with the up-down motionof the carrier rings, for example by suitable interconnection therewith.Other control elements for the thread may be placed in the path of thethread, as desired. The thread guide elements 40, 41 and the like arearranged on circumferential rings 47, 48, 49 which are connected withthe thread carrier ring 6a by means of braces 46 to provide forsynchronous lifting movement of the rings 47-49 carrying the threadcontrol elements.

FIGS. 6-8 illustrate an arrangement similar to that of FIGS. 4a, 4b andFIG. in which, however, the axes of the thread spools 68a, 68b arevertical. This arrangement permits the placement of the thread controlelements associated with 'all the spools, such as thread break detectors41 to be concentric and in line with the axes of the thread spools 68a,68b. Ring 49 carrying guide eyes 44 then becomes unnecessary. Threadbreaks 40 are again provided. They may be located staggered with respectto each other and somewhat radially offset with respect to the placementof the thread break detectors 41. The thread break detectors 41themselves are carried on small cross braces 41 connected to the threadbreak detector carrier ring 48 which, in turn, is connected to a carrierrod 43 vertically secured to spool carrier rings 60, 6b as before. Apair of transverse braces 42a, 42b are provided, each securing aseparate thread break carrier ring 47a, 47b, located at spaced radialdistances from each other. To prevent interference, the rings arestaggered circumferentially and have been omitted from the drawings in FIG. 7. Parts similar to those previously described have not beendiscussed again and have been given same reference numerals.

Various changes and modifications, particularly in the constructionalarrangement of the lifting mechanism may be made within the inventiveconcept. For example more than two superimposed layers of spool carriersmay be used and the spools are then preferably arranged to be staggeredor offset from each other to prevent thread entanglementflhe ofisetarrangement of the spools for two layers being best seen in FIGS. 5 and8.

We claim:

1. Circular knitting machine having a machine support frame and a spoolcarrier locating spools thereon to surround and ring the needle cylinderof said knitting machine and adapted to hold a plurality .of threadspools thereon, said spools being spacedly mounted around the peripheryof said spool carrier;

means securingsaid spool carrier to said machine support frame, saidsecuring means including a drive means on the knitting machineinteriorly of the vertical projection of the outermost spools on thespool carrier to effect adjustment of the vertical position of the spoolcarrier with respect to the machine support frame to therebysimultaneously adjust the vertical position of said spools of theknitting machine with respect to the needle cylinder; and guide means tolocate the spool carrier at predetermined positions with respect to themachine.

2. Machine according to claim 1, wherein the position adjustment meansincludes a cable connection suspending the spool carrier with respect tothe frame, and a winding drum to wind the cable thereon and adjust thefree length thereof suspending the spool carrier and hence the verticalposition of the spool carrier on the frame.

3. Machine according to claim 1, wherein the position adjustment meansincludes a hydraulic lifting piston-cylinder combination;

and means securing the spool carrier to the movable part of thehydraulic lifting piston-cylinder combination.

4. Machine according to claim 1, wherein the position adjustment meansincludes a pneumatic lifting pis ton-cylinder combination;

and means securing the spool carrier to the movable part of thepneumatic lifting piston-cylinder combination.

5. Machine according to claim 1, wherein the position adjustment meansincludes a rotary mechanical positioning drive.

6. Machine according to claim 5, wherein the mechanical-positioningdrive comprises a rotary threaded spindle and a spindle nut, the spindlenut being connected to the spool carrier to form a spindle nut drive.

7. Machine according to claim 6, wherein the machine has a main drivegear and comprises gear means interconnecting the main drive gear andthe spindle to transmit rotational energy to the spindle.

8. Machine according to claim 6, wherein the machine has a main driveand comprises synchronous drive means interconnecting the main drive andthe threaded spindle-spindle nut drive.

9. Machine according to claim 8, wherein the spindle-spindle nut driveis selectively engageable.

10. Machine according to claim 1 including a plurality of spoolcarriers, stacked vertically above each other and connected to saidmeans securing said spool carrier to said machine frame to be conjointlymovable.

11. Machine according to claim 10, wherein the machine is provide withthread guide and control means, and carrier rings for said control meansto secure said control means to the machine;

wherein the carrier rings for the control means are connected to themeans securing the spool carrier to the machine to be conjointly movabletherewith.

12. Machine according to claim 11, wherein the thread guide and controlmeans are located concentric with respect to the spools.

13. Machine according to claim 1, wherein the spool carrier isring-shaped.

1. Circular knitting machine having a machine support frame and a spoolcarrier locating spools thereon to surround and ring the needle cylinderof said knitting machine and adapted to hold a plurality of threadspools thereon, said spools being spacedly mounted around the peripheryof said spool carrier; means securing said spool carrier to said machinesupport frame, said securing means including a drive means on theknitting machine interiorly of the vertical projection of the outermostspools on the spool carrier to effect adjustment of the verticalposition of the spool carRier with respect to the machine support frameto thereby simultaneously adjust the vertical position of said spools ofthe knitting machine with respect to the needle cylinder; and guidemeans to locate the spool carrier at predetermined positions withrespect to the machine.
 2. Machine according to claim 1, wherein theposition adjustment means includes a cable connection suspending thespool carrier with respect to the frame, and a winding drum to wind thecable thereon and adjust the free length thereof suspending the spoolcarrier and hence the vertical position of the spool carrier on theframe.
 3. Machine according to claim 1, wherein the position adjustmentmeans includes a hydraulic lifting piston-cylinder combination; andmeans securing the spool carrier to the movable part of the hydrauliclifting piston-cylinder combination.
 4. Machine according to claim 1,wherein the position adjustment means includes a pneumatic liftingpiston-cylinder combination; and means securing the spool carrier to themovable part of the pneumatic lifting piston-cylinder combination. 5.Machine according to claim 1, wherein the position adjustment meansincludes a rotary mechanical positioning drive.
 6. Machine according toclaim 5, wherein the mechanical positioning drive comprises a rotarythreaded spindle and a spindle nut, the spindle nut being connected tothe spool carrier to form a spindle nut drive.
 7. Machine according toclaim 6, wherein the machine has a main drive gear and comprises gearmeans interconnecting the main drive gear and the spindle to transmitrotational energy to the spindle.
 8. Machine according to claim 6,wherein the machine has a main drive and comprises synchronous drivemeans interconnecting the main drive and the threaded spindle-spindlenut drive.
 9. Machine according to claim 8, wherein the spindle-spindlenut drive is selectively engageable.
 10. Machine according to claim 1including a plurality of spool carriers, stacked vertically above eachother and connected to said means securing said spool carrier to saidmachine frame to be conjointly movable.
 11. Machine according to claim10, wherein the machine is provide with thread guide and control means,and carrier rings for said control means to secure said control means tothe machine; wherein the carrier rings for the control means areconnected to the means securing the spool carrier to the machine to beconjointly movable therewith.
 12. Machine according to claim 11, whereinthe thread guide and control means are located concentric with respectto the spools.
 13. Machine according to claim 1, wherein the spoolcarrier is ring-shaped.